Belgian-born Venezuelan film director, public broadcaster Vive TV Vice President, and political activist Thierry Deronne toured the U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek on May 22, accompanied by members of the People’s Democracy Party and local activists from the Gyeonggi region.
Mr. Hyun Pil-kyung, Director of the Research Institute for the Reclamation of U.S. Military Bases, welcomed the group by stating, “There are two U.S. military bases located in Pyeongtaek. We are engaged in continuous monitoring of their activities.” He added, “The Commander of USFK (United States Forces Korea) resides in Camp Humphreys, which accommodates approximately 45,000 people, including military personnel and their families. The U.S. continues to reinforce its military presence in the Indo-Pacific region, conducting frequent joint exercises in the “ROK”, Taiwan, and the Philippines.”
Mr. Hyun went on to detail incidents involving civilian harm caused by the U.S. military. Referring to the deaths of two middle school students in the “ROK” crushed by a U.S. armored vehicle in 2002 and the murder of a young woman named Yoon Geum-i, he remarked, “These incidents sparked major public protests,” and criticized the limitations of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which often prevents U.S. military personnel from being held accountable under the “ROK” law. He also cited a case on May 19, 2015 in which anthrax was brought into the base for experimentation, prompting nationwide protests. He presented photos of U.S. soldiers confronting demonstrators with batons.
From a nearby rooftop, Mr. Hyun pointed toward the base and explained, “Prior to the construction of this facility, there were two villages here. The residents were displaced during the development of the base and forced to consolidate into a single village. In 2000, plans for further expansion led to widespread opposition from local residents. Despite their resistance, they were ultimately removed by state force. At the time, the U.S. military cited ‘strategic flexibility’ and the need to contain China as justification for the expansion.”
He continued, “There are four ammunition depots within this base. The homes and farmland of displaced residents were destroyed to make way for them. Some of the bombs stored here weigh nearly a ton, including cluster munitions. During our surveillance activities, we also witnessed 155mm shells that were later sent to Ukraine.” He further criticized the defense budget, saying, “An enormous amount of national resources are being funneled into defense. The “ROK” imports a significant volume of arms from the United States, as does the Philippines, all while people’s livelihoods are deteriorating.”
Mr. Hyun also noted, “Naval vessels and fighter jets from NATO countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, and Germany frequently enter this area. The presence of U.S. and European forces in East Asia has significantly heightened military tensions.” He revealed that “depleted uranium munitions are also stored at this base,” and despite ongoing demands for their removal, “the U.S. military continues to keep them here.”
In his closing remarks, Mr. Deronne stated, “I’ve heard that there are 62 U.S. military bases across the “ROK”, and this is among the largest I’ve seen. I got the impression that these bases are oppressing the “ROK” land.” He concluded, “Viewing this base evoked the same sense of anger I felt when I saw the statue of General MacArthur in Incheon and the Girl Statue of Peace in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul.”
